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December 31, 2024 — Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB
A groundbreaking study led by Dr. Trevor Day, a physiologist at Mount Royal University (MRU), has revealed that the kidneys play a key role in the process of acclimatization to high altitudes. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, demonstrate that the kidneys contribute significantly to the body’s ability to adapt to reduced oxygen levels and changes in blood pH during high-altitude ascents. The study also underscores the superior physiological adaptations of Sherpas, who have long been known for their ability to thrive in extreme mountain environments.
The study, titled “Comparing Integrative Ventilatory and Renal Acid-Base Acclimatization in Lowlanders and Tibetan Highlanders During Ascent to 4,300 m,” was conducted during an international research expedition to the Nepal Himalayas. Dr. Day and his team examined the blood acid-base responses of lowlanders and Sherpa participants as they ascended to 4,300 meters, a challenging altitude.
The results showed that Sherpas, compared to lowlanders, exhibited a much more rapid and pronounced acclimatization response in both their respiratory and renal systems. Sherpas were able to fully compensate for changes in blood pH at 4,300 meters, while lowlanders remained in a state of alkalemia — a condition where blood pH is elevated due to insufficient renal compensation.
“This study provides new insights into how different populations acclimatize to high altitude,” Dr. Day explained. “We’re seeing that Sherpas, who have lived at high altitudes for generations, possess a unique ability to rapidly adjust both their respiratory and renal systems to compensate for the challenges of lower oxygen levels. This highlights the important role of renal function in high-altitude adaptation.”
The study highlights the interplay between ancestry and physiological mechanisms, suggesting that selective evolutionary pressures may have led to the enhanced renal function seen in Tibetan highlanders, including Sherpas, which aids in their ability to adapt to oxygen-deprived environments.
For the study, Dr. Day’s team assessed respiratory and renal acclimatization in age- and sex-matched groups of lowlanders and Tibetan highlanders during their ascent. While Sherpas demonstrated faster and more significant adjustments in both systems, lowlanders continued to struggle with compensating for the changes in blood pH, underlining the difference in adaptation capabilities between the two groups.
The research has significant implications for understanding how human populations adapt to extreme environments, especially in the context of increased global travel to high-altitude locations. Understanding these adaptations is essential as more people live, work, or travel to high-altitude areas where oxygen levels are lower.
The study’s co-first authors were MRU undergraduate trainees Nicole Johnson and Jessica Dickenson, with contributions from fellow students Benjamin Mackenzie and Rodion Isakovich. MRU faculty member Dr. Nick Strzalkowski also played a key role in the research.
As more people venture to high altitudes for travel, work, or recreational purposes, the findings from this study may contribute to better health strategies for managing altitude sickness and understanding the physiological challenges of life at high elevations.
For further details, refer to the full study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2412561121.
